Leek Recipes

I may sound like a broken record, but I try not to waste food. In Vietnamese, it is tội chết: "dreadfully sinful" to waste. Yesterday, I had a little bit of leftover boiled bow-tie pasta. The quantity was too little to serve as a main dish, so I seasoned them, deep-fried them and served them as chips.

To ensure everyone enjoyed the small amount of chips in equal portions, I used them as crunchy toppings for pea and leeksoup. You could serve them as appetizers for a buffet-style party (maybe next week for Christmas Eve) in mini shot glasses. A sprinkle of curly parsley is more than enough to provide an elegant final touch.

I love this salad as a light lunch meal, especially with the flavorful gorgonzola salad dressing. Alternating thin slices of mozzarella and red beets make up the core of the salad; I placed them on a bed of arugula and flavored them with a leek vinaigrette. Lightly toasted pine nuts added a little crunch.

Serve with slices of toasted sourdough rye bread and you'll be satisfied for the rest of the day.

The concept of tarte salée ("savory pie" in French) is pretty simple. The flaky dough is made with puff pastry and the filling is usually made from vegetables with a cheese topping. This time around, I made a potato pie. The first inside layer is very similar to the leek quiches I made a few months ago. I topped the pie with gorgonzola cheese for added flavor.

It's easy to assemble once the potato slices are pan-fried. Just pair the pie with a healthy green salad. Enjoy!